University of Maryland researchers enlist Chesapeake crabs in fight against terrorism

Maryland crabs are not only tasty but might also help detect tiny quantities of explosives, bioagents and other potentially dangerous materials in air and water.

Researchers at the University of Maryland's Clark School of Engineering in College Park are using a substance call chitosan, found in the shells of the Chesapeake Bay blue crab, to coat components of a microscopic sensor.

"Chitosan is interesting because it's a biological compound that can interact with a wide variety of substances and also work well in a complex, sensitive device," says Reza Ghodssi, an associate professor in the engineering school, in a statement.

If successfully developed, the sensor could prove extremely valuable for airports, hospitals and other places where lots of people gather.

Crab lovers should not be worried that they'll lose their favorite dish to the Department of Homeland Security. Chitosan is extracted from crab-shell waste.

The chitosan project is led by a group of researchers, including Ghodssi, Gary Rubloff of the university's Institute for Systems Research, Bill Bentley from the university's Department of Bioengineering and Greg Payne from the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute.

Ghodssi and his collaborators recently submitted a proposal to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda to develop a sensor system to detect the presence of bird flu.